Obama calls for Order in Honduras

An earlier coup attempt was not carried out apparently because it was not approved by the United States:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8123126.stm

There have been demonstrations and these have been put down using tear gas. We will see how well covered these are by the mainstream press. Zelaya is strongly supported by Chavez the president of Venezuela who suggested that the US was involved in the coup although he did not provide any evidence to support this:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090628-212881/Venezuelan-president-US-behind-Honduras-coup

Apparently Zelaya has been flown to Costa Rica. Zelaya had fired the chief of the armed forces for refusing to distribute ballots for the referendum. That might have been the last straw for the military.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/28/obama-calls-order-military-arrests-honduran-president/

Obama Calls for Order as Honduran Military Arrests President
President Manuel ZelayaManuel Zelaya had tried to hold a vote to change the constitution to let him run again, a move deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, Congress and the country's military.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

President Obama on Sunday called on all actors in Honduras to respect the rule of law after military leaders there arrested President Manuel Zelaya to head off Zelaya's attempt to hold a vote on constitutional changes deemed illegal by the country's Supreme Court and Congress.

Zelaya, in a move similar to his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo ChavezHugo Chavez, had wanted to overturn the law that prohibited him from seeking another term in office. He called the arrest a "coup" and a "kidnapping."

"I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding the detention and expulsion of President Mel Zelaya," Obama said in a written statement.

"As the Organization of American States did on Friday, I call on all political and social actors in Honduras to respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the tenets of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Any existing tensions and disputes must be resolved peacefully through dialogue free from any outside interference," Obama said.

.........

The European Union also criticized the overthrow, which followed Zelaya's firing of the chief of the armed services.